Thread brake for double twisters



Aug. 16, 1949.

,R. H. CARTER THREAD BRAKE FOR DOUBLE TWISTERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 31, 1947 6, 1949. R. H. cAR'rz 2,478,927

THREAD ,BRAKE FOR DOUBLE TWISTERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 31, 1947 Patented Aug. 16, 1949 Ralph H.

Carter, Johnson City, Tenn, asslgnor to North American Rayon Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application December 31, 1947, Serial No. 794,963 3 Claims. (Cl. 57-58) This invention relates to twisting spindles,

especially of the double twist type and more particularly to improvements in methods and means for controlling the passage of yarn or thread through the spindle during the high speed operation thereof.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide means adapted, in cooperation with the tensioning devices used on such spindles, to prevent feeding of yarn therethrough when the yarn or thread breaks on its way to the take-up device and the continued but improper collection of such thread on high speed operating portions of the spindle.

It is another object of the invention to provide a method for preventing the collection of flywaste on the storage wheel of a twisting spindle by controlling the passage of the yarn through the spindle. I

A further object is to provide an arrangement adapted for practising the method and which arrangement can be readily applied to existing twisting spindles.

A still further object is so to constitute the arrangement of the devices and elements used for practising the method that they can be readily placed in operative position in the spindle and easily interchanged and replaced.

Another, still further object of the invention is to constitute the operative member of the ar-'" rangement as a prefabricated unit adapted for rapid insertion in a spindle.

i In double twist spindles of this type the twisting portion of the spindle, comprising the whorl or belt-driven pulley and the storage wheel, revolves at high speed while the yarn package from which the yarn is drawn remains relatively stationary, being adapted to turn when accidentally carried along or to .be turned'manually at low speed. The yarn, withdrawn from the package, passes downwardly through the hollow spindle and emerges from a port in the storage wheel around which it becomes wrapped to a greater or 1 lesser extent. It then passes outwardly and in spaced relation around the yarn package, to form the so-called balloon", characteristic of the free-balloon double twist type of spindle. The twisted thread then passes to a suitable take-up device. The size of the balloon is governed by the rotational speed of the spindle, speed of thread take-up, denier of the yarn beingtwisted and on certain other factors, as for example, the

fact that the spindle speed is adjusted to conform to the spacing prevailing between a pluralityofspindies.

When a so-called "free balloon" is used in. contrast to one of restricted extent, the pull or tension exerted on the delivered yarn is uniform and this results in a desirable uniform density of the take-up package, The centrifugal force exerted on the threadduring the ballooning, as a function of the denier of the yarn, spindle speed and other factors,.influences the pull exerted upon the yarn as it is drawn from the supplypackage. Hence a balloon of large denier yarn tends to draw the yarn from the package at a faster rate than a balloon of smaller denier yarn.

In order to regulate the pull of the balloon on the yarn drawn from the package it is necessary to interpose suitable braking or tensioning means in the path traversed by the yarn on its way from the supply package to the ballooning zone, such tensioning means being adjusted in accordance with the denier of the yarn. The major portion of the braking or tensioning applied to yarn in a free balloon type of spindle is preferably applied to the yarn at the place where it enters the spindle on its downward travel therethrough, i. e. at the top end of the spindle or cap, the tensioning at this point being efiected by suitable members which are caused to bear against the yarn. A

, supplementary amount of tension however is created by the action of the storage wheel at the lower end from a port of which the yarn issues and around the grooved surfaces of which it wraps to a greater or lesser extent. This supplementary tension depends on various factors inherent during a given twisting operation and cannot readily be controlled. Its magnitude however is of importance when considered in conjunction with the tension applied to the yarn beforeit passes through the spindle, and the two tensions must be correlated to each other. The storage wheel and its grooved surface in a spindle of this type is of great importance in that its use is necessary in order to insure the production of a free balloon of yarn about the spindle as well as uniform balloon tension. However its operation is attended by the drawback that, if the yarn breaks at a point within the balloon orbetween the balloon and the take-up device, the thread, although no longer passingto the balloon and to the take-up device, neverthelessgcontinues to be drawn from the supply package, passes through the spindle and wraps up as a layer on the thread storage wheel. The thread thus wrapped on the storage wheel slips to. a certain extent, and centrifugal force tends to throw it outwardly in the form of an annulus rotating at high speed. This so-called fly-waste constitutes a source of danger aeraeav in that if it builds up sufiiciently it may strike operating personnel or contact with adjacent spindles and interferes with their operation. A primary object of the invention therefore is to provide a method and means for preventing the accumulation of such fly-waste.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, where:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a twisting spindle provided with the arrangement or the invention.

Fig, 2 is a top view oi a tensloning member suitable for use with the spindle shown in Fig. i.

Fig. 3 is a section through the tensioning member of Fig. 2.

Fig. i is a sectional view taken on line 3-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the yarn passage control element before insertion in the spindle assembly.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a similar view taken on line i=1 of Fig. 1.

I Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line e e oi Fig. 1 showing the storage wheel.

Fig. 9 is a. view partly in section showing a latch-out device and braking means used fbr stopping the spindle.

Referring in detail to the drawing, a form of spindle to which the invention is applicable is shown as a whole in section as a structure having a conical top, the entire structure being shown tilted from the vertical.

The numeral l8 designates a. package of untwisted yarn carried by a holder ll. Holder ll comprises an upstanding bowl l2 having a base I3. The bowl encloses the lower portion of the yarn package, the wall thereof however being spaced from the exterior of the package to permit unwinding of the yarn. An inverted cup I4 is placed upon base l8 and engages in an annular groove [5 in the base. Cup l4 adjacent its lower edge abuts against shoulder [8 for concentrically aligning the cup within bowl l3. Extending upwardly within the inverted cup I4 is a raised hollow central pedestal l1 formed on base 13 and an externally threaded boss I8 is formed integral with the pedestal. A central guide tube I9 is threaded upon boss l8 and extends upwardly through an opening 25 in cup I4. Guide tube I9 is provided with an annular flange 2| which enages the edge of opening 28 of the cup l4 for causing the cup II to flt tightly within groove l5 when the guide tube is screwed in position upon the boss l8. Guide tube I 9 is reducedat its upper end as at 22 and is adapted to receive thereover an inner annular boss 23 of cap 24, a rubber ring 18 serving to prevent vibrations between these two members. Cap 24 is o! conical formation and is provided with flanges 25 and 26, respectively, providing a groove for engaging the upper edge of the bobbin of package ID. The construction thus described is arranged to properly position and retain package III in aligned position with respect to bowl l2 and the opening provided within the pedestal projection II of base l3. As hereinafter pointed out the package in operation is normally maintained against rotation at an angle of approximately 25 to the vertical.

A hollow spindle 21 extends upwardly through tubular boss l8, pedestal l1 and terminates below the opening or guide tube IS. A roller bearing 28 is mounted within a recess in boss l8 and engages the interior wall thereof and the exterior of spindle 2? for maintaining the parts in position for relative rotation. A hearing 29 is arranged wlthln pedestal l1, said bearing engaging the spindle 2? for maintaining the spindle in proper position with respect to base it at this point. Bearing 29 is maintained in position by spring ring 30 fitting in an appropriate groove and roller bearing 28 is maintained in proper elevation with respect to hearing 29 by means of coil sprin 3i.

Spindle 2? extends below base is and is there provided with a reduced portion 32 about which is encircled a bearing 3a, the bearing being retained within an upstanding cup 36 of a nonrotatable bearing support 35. A pivot bearing 33 is providedat the lower end of the spindle,-which bearing engages fixed bearing plate 3? carried in the bearing support.

Bearing support all is adjustably positioned by means of nut 38 having a reduced section 39 extending downwardly through opening til in a pivoted bracket arm ii. A washer 32 is placed over the lower end of the bearing support and the support is held in position upon the bracket by means of loci: nuts 48. A belt-pulley or whorl Lid extends over a portion of spindle 2! and the upper portion of bearing support 35 and is integral with the spindle for rotation therewith. The whorl is adapted to engage and disengage a belt st in the manner hereinafter set forth. Reduced neck id of the whorl is positioned upwardly within the opening in pedestal ll of base it, and

whorl, and it is provided with three radial openlugs 53 which communicate with openings 41. Storage wheel 52 is provided with an annular groove 54 which serves for the storage of yarn. Groove 54 communicates with openings 53.

Within reduced portion 22 of guide tube 19 is a recess 55, in which reposes a member constituted of fur or plush-like material 56, constituting an embodiment of the thread passage control means of the invention and which is hereinafter described in detail. Cap 24 is formed with a threaded central depression 51 into which nose 58 is screwed. Nose 58 has a flat surface 59 and a central opening 60. A thread tenslonlng member 6| reposes on nose 58 and is constituted as a disc 62 and stem 83, the latter fitting loosely within opening 60 of nose 58. Flat surface 59 of nose 58 is at least equal to, or slightly larger than, disk 62. Disc 62 is provided with an up-tm'ned marginal edge 64 and the disc is riveted to the stem at 55.

In order to drive spin'dle'fl idlers, one of which is illustrated at 68 are mounted on spindle rail 61 to guide belt 45 in a path adjacent belt pulley or whorl 44. The bracket 4| is constituted as a two-armed lever pivoted at 88 to a support and so arranged as to support the spindle in pendulous fashion and normally to keep the whorl 44 in engagement with the belt 45. In normal operation the portion of the spindle comprising the whorl 44 and storage wheel 52 rotates at high speed whereas the yarn supply package and its support are kept stationary by a counterweight I0 disposed interiorly ot the bell member I4; The

its support however can turn rela- I rounded to prevent stubbing of the threading-up wire. Modifications of this invention will be recognized readily by those skilled in the. art, and

pivoted bracket 4| carrying the spindle oscillates I beyond a predetermined limit. The spindle may also be latched out manually by moving the entire unit to latching position and applying the brake 66' to the whorl 44 to stop the spindle. The brake device and latching-out arrangement constitute the subject matter of the copending application of Ralph H. Carter and Chadwick B. Kingsbury, Serial No. 794,964, filed December 31, 1947.

it is desired to cover all modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a twisting spindle of the type wherein the yarn is drawn from a relatively stationary supply package and enters said spindle at the top and passes through said spindle and issues at the bottom thereof and is wrapped on and unwrapped from a rapidly rotating storage wheel constituting part of the twisting mechanism to produce a free balloon of yarn about the spin die as it passes in twisted condition to a collection device, braking means bearing loosely against the outside top of said spindle at the place During the twisting operation the yarn drawn from the supply package It) passes, as indicated at 10, ll downwardly through the spindle, tension being applied theretoby the disk 6|. It emerges through one of the radial ports of the storage wheel 52 and passes upwardly, forming the socalled balloon illustratively indicated by the single strand I2 in Fig. 1.

If the thread should break at a point on its.

way to the twisted thread take-up device, it would still continue to be withdrawn from the supply package, emerge slowly through the port in the storage wheel as aforesaid, and build upon the latter as an accumulation, thus giving rise to the difllculties mentioned above. To prevent this, a member provided with radially outstanding fibers is disposed within the spindle as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 through which the yarn passes on its downward path to the port in the storage wheel. As the yarn feeds slowly through the port of the latter and bulids up on the groove thereof, that portion between the tension device and the storage groove rapidly becomes twisted to a very high degree thus causing it to kink. The thread within the spindle, due to its kinking becomes enmeshed and caught by the radially outstanding fibers of the passage control member aforesaid, and thus the thread is twisted in two. This stops the thread from feeding through the ports of the above-mentioned thread storage wheel and thus the heavy accumulation of thread in the thread storage groove is prevented. This member is preferably formed of fur-like or plush-like material possessing resilient upstanding fibers. It may be conveniently fabricated from a piece of natural or artificial fur, plush or analogous material of soft brush-like constitution as illustratively shown in Fig. '7 where 13' indicates a flexible support such as hide, fabric, plastic or the like for the upstanding fibers, bristles, hairs or the like H, The element shown in Fig. 5 is formed into cylindrical shape as by overlapping and uniting the bared ends 14 thereof. The formedcylin- I drical unit may also be confined in a suitable casing, preferably a flexible one. The formed unit is inserted in the above described recess in the member l9 as indicated at 55 in Figs. 1 and 4.

The spindle is threaded-up by passing a flexible hook-ended wire through a port of the storage wheel, thence upwardly through-the spindle and through the aperture in the top to pull the yarn downwardly through the spindle by means of the hooked end of the wire. The threading-up wire can be readily pushed through the plush-like yarn passage control member so that it does not interfere with the threading-up operation. Additionally, the various openings within the spindle,

e. g. Ill, 15, I6, and 11 (Fig. 1) are flared or of entry of said yarn to impart normal braking action to said yarn, a broken thread entangling means constituting a yarn path disposed within said spindle intermediate said top and bottom and provided with a. multiplicity of spaced resilient bristles extending radially into the hollow interior of the spindle and substantially at right angles to the direction in which the yarn passes through the spindle for entangling the loose end of said yarn and preventing continued passage thereof through said spindle and its collection on said storage wheel in an amount substantially in excess of that required for forming said balloon when said yarn breaks between said storage wheel and said collection device and twists and kinks within said spindle and a pull continues to be exerted on the yarn on said supply package :by yarn already collected on said storage wheel and caused by centrifugal force exerted on said col- Iected yarn.

2. A yarn entangling member for double twist spindles as constituted according to claim 1, said member comprising a hollow cylinder lined with a pile fabric, the pile of which extends radially into the hollow interior of the cylinder at right angles to the direction in which the yarn passes through said spindle to define a thread path affording high resistance to movement of kinked yarn and. adapted to entangle and hold broken yarn and prevent further travel thereof through said spindle.

8. A yarn. entangling member for double twisting spindles as constituted according to claim 1, said member comprising a hollow cardboard cylinder lined with a pile fabric of mohair, the pile of which extends radially into the hollow interior of the cylinder at right angles to the direction in which the yarn passes through said spindle to define a thread path affording high resistance to movement of kinked or over-twisted yarn and adapted to entangle and hold broken yarn and prevent further travel thereof through said spindle. I

RALPH H. CARTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

704,793 Germany Apr. 7, 1941 

